Winged Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum planispinum)

Family: Rutaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

UPDATE 10/10/2011: Zanthoxylum planispinum Siebold & Zucc. is a synonym of Zanthoxylum armatum DC.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a powder and used as a condiment, a pepper substitute. A light roasting brings out more of the flavour. The seed is an ingredient of the famous Chinese 'five spice' mixture. The peel is also used. — It can be ground into a powder and used as a condiment, a pepper substitute.; A light roasting brings out more of the flavour.; The seed is an ingredient of the famous Chinese 'five spice' mixture.; The peel is also used.

Habitat & North American Range

Low mountains in Japan. (Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)